Project Credits

Patrick Robertson - Project Coordinator
Author and multimedia creator, Pat has been involved in leading edge technology for the past 20 years. With degrees in Science and Education, Pat has taught elementary for 10 years and secondary for 7 years in the Elk Valley. For the past two years, he has been School District 5's Technology Coordinator.

For Pat, this project started about 10 years ago when he decided to write a book and do a multimedia project about the history of Fernie. This followed a short film that he produced on the Legend of Hosmer Mountain, a local legend. The basic research took six years and the writing took two years. The book that this website is based on was published in 1998, the 100th Anniversary of the founding of Fernie. After the book, it took Pat another two years to find the funding to build this website.

Working with project team, the four members outlined and storyboarded the website. Pat supplied most of the written content, which was modified for this project, the electronic pictures, edited the written material, wrote the Teacher's Corner content, and proofed the entire website for discrepancies, broken links, etc.

Nathan Troxel - Project Leader
Nathan was the Project Leader and lead web developer for this Fernie: The Early Years. As a partner in the web design firm NT Solutions, Nathan's extensive web design and project management expertise were valuable assets to the project. Nathan also prepared the digital maps and wrote most of the text for the Railroads section. In his work with NT Solutions, Nathan has overseen the development of over 15 major websites, including InsideFernie.com, a web hub for present-day Fernie.

Jason Josey - Researcher
Jason brought his extensive experiences as a museum volunteer and contract worker to this project. While earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Jason volunteered at the Sir Alexander Galt Museum, where he developed a strong interest in regional material history. Since his graduation, Jason has worked as a Curatorial Assistant and Exhibit Technician for the Fernie & District Historical Society (FDHS), playing key roles in the development of the Society. His knowledge of Fernie's history and the FDHS collection has been a great asset to this project.

Elize Naude - Writer
Elize Naude attended Mount Royal College where she graduated with a diploma in General Arts and Science in 1998. She then travelled to Europe for several months to broaden her horizons and has returned home with plans to continue her studies in the hopes of graduating with a degree in Business. Elize has played a vital role in this project documenting all the researched information and formatting it to an appropriate level for children from Kindergarten to Grade one.

Fernie & District Historical Society (FDHS)
The FDHS provided workspace and access to its collection for this project. Ella Verkerk, Secretary Treasurer of the Society, was especially helpful in locating new sources of information within and outside the FDHS collection. Randal Macnair, the Society's new Coordinator, provided helpful suggestions regarding the web site's content. John Kinnear, Vice-President of the Society, provided access to the Crow's Nest Pass Coal Company Archives. Mike Pennock was a valuable source of information and insight.

Project Funding
This digital collection was produced under contract to the BC Heritage Website program. Funding for BC Heritage Websites Program is provided by Canada's Digital Collections of Industry Canada, the BC Heritage Trust, the BC Ministry of Education, and the BC Heritage Websites Program.

School District #5
Computers and software were supplied by School District 5 through their technology coordinator. This website is a demonstration of the dynamic learning resources that can be developed by school districts to enhance the student's learning through the use of technology.

Ghostrider Productions
Ghostrider Productions owns the copyright to Fernie: The Early Years. It is a 12 year old multimedia company that is based out of Fernie, BC. Permission is granted for use of the copyrighted materials in this website.

Photos
Images for this web site have been used, with permission, from the following persons and institutions:

• Grace Dvorak (Fernie)
• Mary Menduk (Fernie)
• Florence Phillips (Fernie)
• Albert Dicken (Fernie)
• Jacqueline Letcher (Grasmere)
• Anne McKay (Cranbrook)
• BC Archives (BCARS)
• Fort Steele Heritage Town Archives
• Fernie & District Historical Society (FDHS)

Bibliography

Project Feedback

We welcome any comments you may have regarding this project.

• Patrick Robertson, Project Coordiator - E-mail
• Fernie & District Historical Society - E-mail
• Nathan Troxel, Project Leader - E-mail